The Giving Tree claims a woman must willing sacrifice everything which completes her womanhood to the benefit of men. Shell Silverstein uses the tree as a symbol for women and the boy as a symbol for men, using the pronoun "she" for the tree and, obviously, "he" for the boy (Silverstein). From the story's begging, the female supports the male's endeavors. He want to play and have fun, so the tree helps him do so by letting the boy swing on her branches. When the boy needs a snack, she lets him eat some of her apples. Though as the boy matures, and his desires become greater, she must sacrifice more and more to satisfy him. She must endure solitude, as he ventures off into the wide world. When the boy needs money, the tree gives up all her apples to him, the plant's only method of reproduction. Furthermore, the tree is "happy" to participate in this symbolic surrender of virginity because that's how females should feel about serving men: happy (Silverstein). Next, the now man desires a home. The tree breaks off all her branches from him. She gives up a chunk of herself so he can build up his life. Once again, the tree willingly helps the male figure to the detriment of herself. The man turns to the tree for a third time. He requires a boat to sail far away, so the tree willingly gives up all she has left to be used as material for his need: her trunk. She sacrifices nearly everything which makes her a tree to satisfy the needs of the man, symbolizing Silverstein claim about women's role in society. In the story's end, women's subordinate role in society reaches a climax as the tree is, literally, reduced to just a lonely stump for the now elderly man to sit on. She willing sacrifices everything to support the male throughout his whole life, despite the fact the he only comes to the tree when in time of need for the majority of his life. She remains in her home of the forest while he goes out into the world to work, yet on the rare occasions when he stops by his original home, she supports him anyway. The tree models women's role in society as according to Silverstein: women must willingly sacrifice everything to satisfy the needs of men.
